Placement in Surah Al-Qamar
This begins the story of the Qawm (nation) of Lut (as) and is the fourth of the five nations mentioned in Surah Al-Qamar.
كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ لُوطٍ بِالنُّذُرِ
“The Qawm (nation/people of) Lut denied the warnings”.
Overview and Narrative Style
Stylistic Character
The narration combines elements found in the stories of Nuh (as), ‘Aad, and Thamud, echoing variations and emphases introduced earlier.
Anticipation Through Pattern
With the formula “denied the warnings” stated, we can anticipate what follows—based on prior stories—regarding consequences of denial.
Focus on Warning
The entry is concise—mirroring Thamud’s introduction—and centers the theme of warnings and responses to them.
Comparative Arcs Across the Surah
Parallels with Nuh (as)
- Nuh (as) is mentioned by name; Lut (as) is also mentioned by name.
- Rescue is highlighted for both Nuh (as) and Lut (as); not for Hud (as) and Salih (as).
- Divine intervention: Nuh’s ship under “Our watch”; Lut’s rescue as a Ni’mah (blessing) “from Us”.
جَزَى (Jazaa’) Ingratitude (كُفِرَ) Gratitude (شَكَرَ)
Parallels with ‘Aad
Both narratives emphasize what was “sent against them” and highlight timing.
إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حَاصِبًا إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا صَرْصَرًا
وَلَقَدْ صَبَّحَهُم بُكْرَةً عَذَابٌ مُّسْتَقِرٌّ فِي يَوْمِ نَحْسٍ مُّسْتَمِرٍّ
مُّسْتَقِرٌّ مُّسْتَمِرٍّ
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ فَذُوقُوا عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ
Parallels with Thamud
- Both stories open concisely with: كَذَّبَتْ ... بِالنُّذُرِ
- Each mentions a distinct warning: water shares and the she-camel for Thamud; forewarning of coming punishment for Qawm Lut.
- Both reference a specific crime, unlike the stories of Nuh (as) and ‘Aad here.
Linguistic and Rhetorical Insights
النُّذُر — Meanings and Usage
- Plural Reading
- النُّذُر (An-Nudhur) can be the plural of نُذْر (Nudhr “warning”) or of نَذِير (Nadheer “warner”).
- How “Warners” in the Plural?
- Even with a single messenger to a people, using the plural is explained by the principle: whoever denies one messenger has denied them all. It can also denote the class/genre of messengers.
- Rhetorical Force
- The plural conveys that rejecting one prophet equals rejecting the unified, institutional message of prophethood. Acceptance of all Allah’s Prophets is a fundamental Islamic belief.
Anticipation Through Repetition
The succinct denial formula primes the listener—based on prior narratives—for rescue of the faithful, consequence for rejectors, and the measured, just nature of divine recompense.
Rescue is favor (Ni’mah) Punishment is just
Paired Expressions Highlight
The surah’s design echoes key pairs across stories—reinforcing memory and meaning:
جَزَى كُفِرَ (Ingratitude) شَكَرَ (Gratitude)
مُّسْتَقِرٌّ مُّسْتَمِرٍّ
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عََذَابِي وَنُذُرِ فَذُوقُوا عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ
These echoes connect the story of Qawm Lut (as) with earlier accounts (Nuh (as), ‘Aad, Thamud), forming a cohesive, didactic tapestry.
Lut (as) and His People Across the Qur’an
Surah Al-A’raf (80–84)
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُمْ بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ (80) إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِنْ دُونِ النِّسَاءِ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُسْرِفُونَ (81) وَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ قَالُوا أَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِنْ قَرْيَتِكُمْ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ (82) فَأَنْجَيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ (83) وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَطَرًا فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
And Lut when he said to his people: “Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds? (80) Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. No, indeed, you are a people who transgress all bounds!”. (81) But the answer of his people was only that they said: “Evict them from your city! Indeed, they are men who keep themselves pure (or thinks themselves to be so pure)." (82) So, We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was of those who remained [with the evildoers]. (83) And We rained upon them a rain. Then see how was the end of the criminals (4).
Surah Hud (76–83)
يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَذَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ وَإِنَّهُمْ آَتِيهِمْ عَذَابٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودٍ (76) وَلَمَّا جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا لُوطًا سِيءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالَ هَذَا يَوْمٌ عَصِيبٌ (77) وَجَاءَهُ قَوْمُهُ يُهْرَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَمِنْ قَبْلُ كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ هَؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي هُنَّ أَطْهَرُ لَكُمْ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ فِي ضَيْفِي أَلَيْسَ مِنْكُمْ رَجُلٌ رَشِيدٌ (78) قَالُوا لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا لَنَا فِي بَنَاتِكَ مِنْ حَقٍّ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَعْلَمُ مَا نُرِيدُ (79) قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ آَوِي إِلَى رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ (80) قَالُوا يَا لُوطُ إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَنْ يَصِلُوا إِلَيْكَ فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنْكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَكَ إِنَّهُ مُصِيبُهَا مَا أَصَابَهُمْ إِنَّ مَوْعِدَهُمُ الصُّبْحُ أَلَيْسَ الصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيبٍ (81) فَلَمَّا جَاءَ أَمْرُنَا جَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهَا حِجَارَةً مِنْ سِجِّيلٍ مَنْضُودٍ (82) مُسَوَّمَةً عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ وَمَا هِيَ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ بِبَعِيدٍ
[The angels said]: “O Ibrahim, give up this [plea]. Indeed, the command of your Lord has come, and indeed, there will reach them a punishment that cannot be repelled”. (76) And when Our messengers, [the angels], came to Lut, he was anguished for them and felt for them great discomfort and said: “This is a trying day”. (77) And his people came hastening to him, and before [this] they had been doing evil deeds. He said: “O my people, these are my daughters; they are purer for you. So, fear Allah and do not disgrace me concerning my guests. Is there not from among you a single man of reason (or uprightness)?” (78) They said: “You have already known that we have not concerning your daughters any claim, and indeed, you know what we want”. (79) He said: “If only I had against you some power or could take refuge in a strong support”. (80) The angels said: “O Lut, indeed we are messengers of your Lord; [therefore], they will never reach you. So set out with your family during a portion of the night and let not any among you look back, except your wife; indeed, she will be struck by that which strikes them. Indeed, their appointment is [for] the morning. Is not the morning near?” (81) So, when Our command came, We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest (i.e., turned it upside down) and rained upon them stones of layered hard clay, [which were] (82) Marked from your Lord. And they are not far from the wrongdoers (83).
Surah Al-Hijr (58–75)
قَالُوا إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَى قَوْمٍ مُجْرِمِينَ (58) إِلَّا آَلَ لُوطٍ إِنَّا لَمُنَجُّوهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ (59) إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ قَدَّرْنَا إِنَّهَا لَمِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ (60) فَلَمَّا جَاءَ آَلَ لُوطٍ الْمُرْسَلُونَ (61) قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ مُنْكَرُونَ (62) قَالُوا بَلْ جِئْنَاكَ بِمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَمْتَرُونَ (63) وَأَتَيْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ (64) فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وَاتَّبِعْ أَدْبَارَهُمْ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنْكُمْ أَحَدٌ وَامْضُوا حَيْثُ تُؤْمَرُونَ (65) وَقَضَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ الْأَمْرَ أَنَّ دَابِرَ هَؤُلَاءِ مَقْطُوعٌ مُصْبِحِينَ (66) وَجَاءَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ (67) قَالَ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ ضَيْفِي فَلَا تَفْضَحُونِ (68) وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُخْزُونِ (69) قَالُوا أَوَلَمْ نَنْهَكَ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ (70) قَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ بَنَاتِي إِنْ كُنْتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ (71) لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِي سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ (72) فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ مُشْرِقِينَ (73) فَجَعَلْنَا عَالِيَهَا سَافِلَهَا وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِنْ سِجِّيلٍ (74) إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآَيَاتٍ لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ (75) وَإِنَّهَا لَبِسَبِيلٍ مُقِيمٍ (76) إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآَيَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
They (the Angels) said (to Ibrahim): “Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals, (58) Except the family of Lut; indeed, we will save them all (59) Except his wife. We have decreed that she is of those who remain behind”. (60) And when the messengers came to the family of Lut, (61) He said: “Indeed, you are people unknown”. (62) They said: “Rather, we have come to you with that which they had been doubting, (63) And we have come to you with truth, and indeed, we are truthful. (64) So set out with your family during a portion of the night and follow behind them and let not anyone among you look back and continue on to where you are commanded”. (65) And We conveyed to him the decree of that matter: that those [sinners] would be eliminated by early morning. (66) And the people of the city came rejoicing. (67) [Lut] said: “Indeed, these are my guests, so do not shame me. (68) And fear Allah and do not disgrace me”. (69) They said: “Have we not forbidden you from [protecting] people?" (70) [Lot] said, "These are my daughters - if you would be doers [of lawful marriage]." (71) By your life, [O Muhammad], indeed they were, in their intoxication, wandering blindly. (72) So, the Saihah (blast) seized them at sunrise. (73) And We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest and rained upon them stones of hard clay. (74) Indeed, in that are signs for those who discern (75).
Surah Ash-Shu’araa’ (160–175)
كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ لُوطٍ الْمُرْسَلِينَ (160) إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ لُوطٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ (161) إِنِّي لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ (162) فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ (163) وَمَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (164) أَتَأْتُونَ الذُّكْرَانَ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ (165) وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ عَادُونَ (166) قَالُوا لَئِنْ لَمْ تَنْتَهِ يَا لُوطُ لَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُخْرَجِينَ (167) قَالَ إِنِّي لِعَمَلِكُمْ مِنَ الْقَالِينَ (168) رَبِّ نَجِّنِي وَأَهْلِي مِمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ (169) فَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ أَجْمَعِينَ (170) إِلَّا عَجُوزًا فِي الْغَابِرِينَ (171) ثُمَّ دَمَّرْنَا الْآَخَرِينَ (172) وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَطَرًا فَسَاءَ مَطَرُ الْمُنْذَرِينَ (173) إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآَيَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ (174) وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ (175)
The people of Lut denied the messengers (160) When their brother Lut said to them: “Will you not fear (and be mindful of) Allah? (161) Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger. (162) So, fear (and be mindful of) Allah and obey me. (163) And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds. (164) Do you approach males from among (all) the (peoples of the) worlds (165) And leave what your Lord has created for you as mates? But you are a people transgressing the limits”. (166) They said: “If you do not desist, O Lut, you will surely be of those expelled”. (167) He said: “Indeed, I am, toward your deed, of those who detest [it]. (168) My Lord, save me and my family from [the consequence of] what they do”. (169) So, We saved him and his family, all, (170) Except an old woman among those who remained behind. (171) Then We destroyed the others. (172) And We rained upon them a rain [of stones], and evil was the rain of those who were warned. (173) Indeed, in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers. (174) And indeed, your Lord, He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful (175).
Focus: What “Denial of the Warnings” Conveys
Unified Message
Denying one messenger equals denying them all; the plural underscores prophethood as a unified institution.
Measured Recompense
The surah frames outcome as just recompense—mirrored in gratitude vs. ingratitude formulations.
Mercy and Favor
Rescue of the believers is a Ni’mah—explicitly stated for Lut (as), paralleling divine care in Nuh’s (as) story.
Micro‑Highlights from the Explanation
Time-Framing of Consequence
Echoes like بُكْرَةً and day-references connect tempo and certainty of the outcome across narratives.
Concise Openings
The mirrored openers for Thamud and Qawm Lut establish a crisp theme: denial of warnings and its aftermath.
Closing Reflection
Across the surah, patterns of wording and theme interlink the accounts. Here, by stating that the People of Lut “denied the warnings,” the text activates those established patterns—signaling divine favor for the grateful, measured justice for denial, and the integrity of the prophetic message as one.